221st Coastal Division (Italy)

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221st Coastal Division
Active1942 – 1943
CountryItaly Kingdom of Italy
BranchItaly Royal Italian Army
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQPontinia
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol		World War II - Mostrina - 221ª Divisione costiera.png World War II - Mostrina - 221ª Divisione costiera artiglieria.png World War II - Mostrina - 221ª Divisione costiera genio.png World War II - Mostrina - "Savoia Cavalleria".png
221st Coastal Division gorget patches

The 221st Coastal Division (Italian: 221ª Divisione Costiera) was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II.[1] Royal Italian Army coastal divisions were second line divisions formed with reservists and equipped with second rate materiel. They were often commanded by officers called out of retirement.[2]

History[]

The division was activated on 15 April 1942 in Latina by uniting the two coastal defense sectors "Littoria" and "Gaeta".[3] The division was assigned to XVII Army Corps and based its headquarter in Pontinia. The division was responsible for the coastal defense of the coast of southern Lazio between the rivers Astura and Garigliano.[4]

After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by invading German forces.

Organization[]

If needed the artillery for the division would come from the following artillery schools located within the division's area of responsibility:

  • Artillery School, in Sabaudia
  • Coastal Artillery School, in Torre Olevola
  • Maritime Artillery School, in Gaeta

Commanding officers[]

The division's commanding officers were:[1][4]

  • Generale di Brigata (15 April 1942 - September 1943)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 373. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. ^ Jowett p 6
  3. ^ Circolare n. 29900 del 29/03/1942 dello S.M.R.E. Uff. Ordinamento - 2a Sezione. "Cronistoria dei reparti costieri". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "221a Divisione Costiera". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  • Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98505-9.
  • Jowett, Philip S. (2000). The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York. ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8.


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